The school district and California Youth Services will present “The Reality of Orange County Teens: What Every Parent and Teen Should Know” Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the Thurston Middle School gym.

Exhibits will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the talk begin at 6 p.m.

Teens and parents alike believe that all teens experiment with drugs and alcohol at various levels, said Irene White, the district’s director of special education and student services. “This is clearly a myth and teen and parents need to understand the risks involved in a single use. We need to change the mind set in our community and embrace the belief that the adults need to do whatever it takes to assure that all teens stay alcohol and drug free.”

Presenters will include a drug overdose survivor and sober young adult speakers.

“The information provided in this parent information night is invaluable and will provide an avenue for parents to have meaningful conversations with their kids about the impact of drug and alcohol, said LBHS Principal Joanne Culverhouse.

College News

Laguna Beach High School ‘09 graduate Jolie Spellacy, now attending New York University, has been appointed to the dean’s list for both semesters of the 2010-2011 school year.

Spellacy’s second semester was spent at the NYU campus in Paris, France.

Allison Palmer

LBHS senior and varsity volleyball player Allison Palmer signs with Arizona State University for next fall.

Calling Hosts to Open Cultural Arms

Nonprofit ASSE International Student Exchange Programs is seeking volunteers to serve as area representatives for the community.

ASSE provides academic-year and semester-exchange programs in the U.S. for high school students from around the world.

Area representatives recruit and screen prospective host families, interview students to study abroad, supervise the exchange students in their community and are compensated based on the number of students they supervise.